Golden State Warriors: 3 Santa Cruz players to keep an eye on

Golden State Warriors’ standouts: Jordan Poole

The player with the highest potential on the Santa Cruz Warriors is obviously Jordan Poole. A first round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Poole is an electric 3-point shooter when in rhythm. All he has to do is learn how to maintain rhythm and… well, everything else too.

It was hard for the Dubs to keep Poole on the floor as a rookie and this season. He doesn’t have a great understanding of the game, prone to defensive lapses and turnovers. His shot selection isn’t great and his efficiency isn’t either. Poole is raw talent in every sense of the phrase.

Last year, Poole was sent to the G-League to build confidence. This worked, as he returned to the NBA and had the best stretch of his young career – averaging 14.3 points and 3.9 assists across his final 13 games.

Santa Cruz gives Poole an opportunity to do something he hasn’t been able to do with Golden State: handle the ball. He has surprising potential as a playmaker, showing a knack for creating looks for his teammates. He’s good at keeping his dribble alive (against weaker opponents) and can be a dual-threat to shoot or pass.

In his first game, Poole led the team in scoring with 22 points (7-of-22 shooting) and dished three assists. He needs to polish every aspect of his game but he could be a serviceable member of the Warriors one day.